A Night at the Opera marks a new phase in the career of the Marx brothers, and it's glorious. This is their first film with MGM after leaving Paramount, and it's their first without the fourth brother, Zeppo, co-starring. Zeppo naturally didn't take kindly to being nicknamed "the unfunny Marx brother," even though he was never supposed to be funny—his role as the straight man was as necessary a part of the comedy as any. But I can see why…

Betty Schaefer: I just think that pictures should say a little something.

Joe Gillis: Oh, one of the message kids. Just a story won't do. You'd have turned down Gone With the Wind.

This nod to Gone with the Wind in an early scene of Billy Wilder's classic Sunset Boulevard feels appropriate—this movie could be considered a film noir Gone with the Wind used as a criticism of Hollywood. Both films tell the story of a fall from greatness, told…

You know what Avengers: Infinity War is at its heart? It can hardly be classified a movie, as there is not much of a beginning, middle, or end. There is no hero’s journey here with an introduction of characters, conflict, and resolution. Instead, it’s a massive, expensive episode of a television series. More specifically, and bear with me here, it’s a giant episode of Dragon Ball Z. Maybe that’s not a bad thing to you. But that’s what it is.…

I have no problem with people liking this. You can have a fun time watching it. But a guy can only take so many puns and one-liners. Exposition scenes cause my eyes to glaze over and fight scenes are poorly choreographed and choppily edited. And the inclusion of Power Ranger-like aliens in the MCU has only harmed it. I’m thinking of the creatures that Loki communicates with as he prepares…